Kagi cancelled Orion for Windows on October 2, 2026 and also ended work on the Linux beta, promising to open source both. As of November 1, 2026, no code has been released yet. Orion itself is still free on Mac, iPhone and iPad, with optional Orion+ from $5 a month. On Windows, use Zen, Dia or Vivaldi instead.
Orion on Toolfolio. Updated November 1, 2026.
What Kagi announced about Orion for Windows and Linux
On October 2, 2026, Kagi published An Update on Orion for Linux and Windows. The short version: Kagi is ending development of Orion for Linux and Windows and will open source both so the community can carry them forward. The small team (Kagi calls it "a handful of developers", funded by users) will focus on Orion for macOS and iOS.
What the post says, point by point:
- Windows: Orion for Windows had been planned for late 2026. Kagi says that release won't come from Kagi, and the code will be made available to the community instead. The Windows newsletter has ended.
- Linux: the existing beta keeps working, but it gets no updates after October 2, 2026, and Kagi does not recommend it as your main browser.
- Open source: Kagi said it would share details within 30 days, that it has contacted open source foundations, and that Kagi won't be the core maintainer. Developers or groups who want to take the projects on can write to support@kagi.com.
- Mac and iPhone: nothing changes. Orion for macOS, iOS and iPadOS stays in active development.
The Orion for Windows page now says the same thing in one line: "The planned Windows release will not be launched by Kagi. We will share details about the source-code release in the blog."
Has Orion for Windows and Linux been open sourced yet?
Not yet. We checked on November 1, 2026, the day Kagi's 30 day window runs out:
| Where we looked | What we found on November 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Kagi blog and its RSS feed | The October 2 post is still the latest Orion update. No source release post yet |
| Orion for Windows page | Details about the source code release will be shared "in the blog" |
| Orion for Linux page | Banner says Kagi is "preparing to open-source both projects" |
| OrionBrowser on GitHub | Only 4 small repositories (Dark Mode, Programmable Buttons, Notes and an iOS helper). The first three are MIT licensed. No Windows or Linux browser code |
| kagisearch on GitHub | No Orion for Windows or Linux repository |
So there is no public repository and no license announced yet for Orion for Windows or Linux. If you see a "download Orion for Windows" link anywhere, it is not from Kagi. Also note that the Microsoft Store app called "Orions Browser" is a different browser, not Kagi's Orion.
The Mac and iPhone versions of Orion are closed source. Kagi's own FAQ says Orion is not open source yet and that it plans to open it once Orion can sustain its own development.
Where Orion works today
| Platform | Status on November 1, 2026 | Price |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Available and actively developed (Orion 1.0 shipped in November 2025, Orion 1.1 added containers in June 2026). Downloads go back to macOS 10.14 | Free |
| iPhone (iOS) | Available on the App Store, actively developed | Free |
| iPad (iPadOS) | Available on the App Store, actively developed | Free |
| Linux | Beta via Kagi's own Flatpak repository, no updates after October 2, 2026, not recommended as a main browser | Free |
| Windows | Cancelled by Kagi. Code to be released to the community, not released yet | Not available |
| Android | Not being worked on, according to Kagi's FAQ | Not available |
If you are on Linux and still want to try the beta, Kagi's install page uses Flatpak with Kagi's own repository (it is not on Flathub). Treat it as a frozen beta.
Is Orion browser free?
Yes. Orion's pricing page says it plainly: "Orion Browser is free for everyone." You don't need an account to download and use it, and the main features, including zero telemetry, built in ad and tracker blocking and support for Chrome and Firefox extensions, are in the free browser.
Orion+ is an optional supporter membership:
| Orion+ plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $5 a month + sales tax | Renews automatically, cancel any time |
| Yearly | $50 a year + sales tax | Renews automatically, cancel any time |
| Lifetime | $150 one time + sales tax | Pay once |
Billing goes through a Kagi account, but you don't need a Kagi Search subscription, and Orion+ does not include Kagi Search. According to Kagi's Orion+ docs, members get access to release candidates with newer WebKit builds and experimental features, exclusive app icons, an Orion+ badge on the feedback forum, an Orion+ role in Kagi's Discord, and more say in what gets built. Buying Orion+ will not bring back a Windows build.
The best Orion alternatives for Windows and Linux
Orion's draw was WebKit, no telemetry and ad blocking by default. No other mainstream WebKit browser runs on Windows, so on a PC you are choosing between Firefox based and Chromium based browsers. Here is how the main options compare.
| Browser | Price | Windows | Linux | Engine | AI built in | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orion | Free, Orion+ optional | No (cancelled) | Frozen beta | WebKit | No | Mac and iPhone users |
| Zen Browser | Free, open source | Yes | Yes | Firefox | No | Privacy and a modern tab layout |
| Dia | Free, paid AI plans | Yes (Windows 11) | No | Chromium | Yes, optional | An AI browser from the Arc team |
| Vivaldi | Free | Yes | Yes | Chromium | No | Deep customization |
| Brave | Free, paid extras | Yes | Yes | Chromium | Yes (Leo) | Ad blocking out of the box |
| Comet | Free, Comet Plus $5 a month | Yes | No | Chromium | Yes (assistant and agent) | Perplexity's AI agent browser |
Zen Browser: closest in spirit, and it runs on Linux
Zen Browser is free and open source, built on Firefox, and available for Windows, macOS and Linux (including ARM builds). It is the best fit if you wanted Orion for privacy and a calm, modern layout. Zen ships often: version 1.24b came out on October 29, 2026, moved to Firefox 159 and added importing Spaces and Profiles from Arc and Dia. You use Firefox add-ons rather than Safari extensions.
Dia: the AI browser pick for Windows
If you are open to AI in your browser, Dia runs on Windows 11 and Apple silicon Macs. It is the Browser Company's AI browser, and the free plan gives you profiles, tab groups, split view and an ad and tracker blocker with no AI. The AI plans are paid, and paid plans had not reached Windows when we last checked. See Is Dia Browser Free? Pricing, the Windows Release and What You Get Without Paying for the full breakdown. Unlike Orion, Dia is built around an assistant that reads your pages, so it is the opposite of Orion's "no AI data collection" stance.
Comet: an AI agent instead of a plain browser
Comet is Perplexity's AI browser for Windows and Mac (plus iOS and Android), free to download, with Comet Plus at $5 a month. Pick it if you want an agent that can do tasks on the web for you. If privacy was your reason for Orion, Comet and Dia are not like for like swaps.
Vivaldi: for people who like to tweak everything
Vivaldi is free on Windows, macOS and Linux, with a built in ad and tracker blocker, vertical tabs, tab stacks, mail, calendar and a feed reader. It suits Orion users who liked the power user features.
Brave: privacy defaults on every platform
Brave is free on Windows, macOS and Linux as well as mobile. Brave Shields blocks ads and trackers by default, much like Orion's built in blocker, and the Leo AI assistant is optional.
On Linux and want WebKit?
GNOME Web (also called Epiphany) is a Linux browser built on the WebKit engine and available from Flathub. It is the nearest thing to Orion's engine on Linux, though it is much simpler than Orion.
For a wider list of browsers, including Mac only options like Crest and Ardia, see the best Arc browser alternatives for Mac and Windows.
Which one should you pick?
- You are on a Mac or iPhone: keep using Orion. Nothing changed for you, and it is still free.
- You are on Windows and want privacy: Zen or Brave.
- You are on Windows and want AI: Dia for an optional assistant, Comet for an agent.
- You are on Linux: Zen, Vivaldi or Brave for daily use. GNOME Web if you want WebKit. Keep the Orion beta only for testing.
- You want Orion on Windows itself: wait for Kagi's source code release and see whether an open source foundation or community group picks it up. No release date exists yet.
FAQ
Is Orion browser coming to Windows?
Not from Kagi. Kagi cancelled the Windows release on October 2, 2026, and said it will release the code so the community can carry it forward. As of November 1, 2026, the code has not been published, so there is no official or community build of Orion for Windows.
Can I download Orion browser on PC?
No. There is no Orion download for Windows. The Microsoft Store app named "Orions Browser" is an unrelated browser from a different developer. Orion is only available on macOS, iOS and iPadOS, plus a discontinued Linux beta.
Is the Orion browser free?
Yes. Orion is free on Mac, iPhone and iPad, with no account needed. Orion+ is an optional membership at $5 a month, $50 a year or $150 lifetime (plus sales tax) that adds release candidate builds, custom icons and community perks. It does not include Kagi Search.
Is Orion browser open source?
Not yet. The Mac and iOS apps are closed source, and only a few small components are on GitHub under the MIT license. Kagi says it will open source the Windows and Linux versions, but as of November 1, 2026 no repository or license has been published.
Is Orion browser available on Linux?
Only as a beta. Kagi stopped updating Orion for Linux on October 2, 2026. The beta still installs through Kagi's own Flatpak repository and keeps working, but Kagi does not recommend it as a main browser. Its future depends on the open source handover.
Is the Orion browser safe to use?
On Mac and iPhone, Orion is a privacy focused browser: Kagi says it has zero telemetry and blocks ads and trackers by default, and it is built on WebKit, the engine behind Safari. The Linux beta no longer gets updates, including security fixes, so avoid it for daily browsing.
Is the Orion browser still buggy?
Orion left beta with version 1.0 for macOS in November 2025, and Kagi still ships updates for Mac and iOS. Some sites can break because extensions and ad blocking are on by default. Orion has a Compatibility mode in settings that turns off extensions for a site that misbehaves.
Which browser is better, Orion or Safari?
They share the same WebKit engine. Orion adds built in ad blocking, support for Chrome and Firefox extensions, vertical tabs, Focus Mode and containers. Safari is more tightly integrated with Apple's apps. If you want more control on a Mac, Orion is the stronger pick. Both are free.
Is Orion better than Firefox?
On a Mac, Orion uses WebKit, which Kagi pitches as faster and easier on battery, and it blocks ads by default. Firefox is open source and runs everywhere, including Windows, Linux and Android. If you need Windows or Linux, Firefox or a Firefox based browser like Zen is the better choice now.
What is the best alternative to Orion browser?
On Windows and Linux, Zen Browser is the closest free, privacy focused alternative. Brave and Vivaldi are strong Chromium based picks. If you want AI built in, try Dia or Comet. On Mac, Safari is the closest WebKit alternative.
How we checked this guide
We read Kagi's October 2, 2026 announcement, the Kagi blog index and RSS feed, the Orion platform pages for macOS, Windows and Linux, the Orion+ pricing page and Kagi's Orion docs on November 1, 2026. We searched the OrionBrowser and kagisearch GitHub organizations for any Windows or Linux source release. Alternatives were checked on each browser's official site or release page. We did not sign up for any account.
Orion platform status, open source status and prices checked on November 1, 2026 and can change once Kagi publishes its source release details. Toolfolio is not affiliated with Kagi or any browser listed here.